Our daughter joined Garden Daycare at 17 months. Our little girl always has the biggest smile when she arrives at Garden and sees her teachers. Enrolling her has been one of our best decisions to date as new parents. Vika and the two other teachers create a warm, loving, and engaging environment. They provide plenty of interactive group activities. And because of the low teacher to child ratio, each child receives close attention and individual support. Whether it's helping on art projects or with dancing (lots of dancing!), they give each child a chance to shine and gain confidence. The kids also spend a lot of time playing outside in the backyard. As well, one of the highlights is the food. Garden provides 3 homemade and healthy meals and 2 snacks a day. We really appreciate that they don't give processed or sugary foods. Stacey is highly communicative and responsive. She regularly shares photo and video updates throughout the day. And at the start of each month, she shares a monthly program with fun weekly lessons. It's so exciting to see that our little girl is learning so much, remembering songs, and using new words that she learned at Garden. We're so grateful to Garden Daycare for providing such a nurturing foundation and preparing our child for preschool and beyond. It is truly a special place. Thank you, Garden Daycare! read more

We absolutely love Garden Daycare! Our daughter started here at 9 months, and the transition could not have been smoother. From day one, Vika and her wonderful staff made us feel completely at ease -- they are so kind, attentive, and genuinely caring. Every morning, our daughter lights up when we arrive and doesn't want to leave -- it's clear how happy and comfortable she feels there. She's thriving -- learning new things every day, becoming more independent, and developing such a sweet connection with the teachers and other kids. As new parents, it's such a gift to have a place we fully trust. Garden Daycare has been everything we hoped for and more -- nurturing, safe, and full of love. We're so grateful to Vika and the entire team! read more

Last year our family became a San Francisco foster family. This summer we brought a toddler into our home and we wanted to give her the very best situation we could. Because she is very social, we knew right away that we would be enrolling her into a part-time day care. When we started our search, we looked for the best daycare centers with perhaps higher prices but the most nurturing environments. After reviewing and touring other options, we were hopeful that Garden Daycare would have availability sooner rather than later. Fortunately a family had just moved across the country and there was a newly opened space. From our first day, our daughter has had a joyous experience. She is always happy at pick up and well taken care of. Vika and Stacey go above and beyond in every respect. Our daughter runs into class every day, blows me kisses and waves goodbye as she disappears through the door. I receive pictures and videos of her activities all day and a thorough report at the end of the day. The food Vika makes is super nutritious and our daughter loves it. The team takes the kids out to the yard as much as possible. The group of kids is very small and our daughter quickly found them to be her friends. After only a few weeks, we were receiving pictures of her hugging all of her new friends. The ratio of kids to teachers is very low which means she has constant stimulation and supervision. Our daughter has extra emotional needs and she receives the support she needs to develop and grow appropriately. We have already seen her overcome many of her challenges. They genuinely love her and we have had moments where our shared love has brought us to tears. Vika, Stacey and their team have gone far above and beyond any expectation I could have set for them. We recently changed from part-time to full-time because I know she is living her best life at daycare. read more

It's been 6 months since our child started attending Garden and it has been amazing since day 1. This is our first child so the idea of having to leave them was very difficult and within the first week, it was evident that we made the right choice with Garden. Before starting, we had multiple calls with Stacey who answered all of our questions and eased our mind on the transition. Vika and the teachers are so sweet with the kids and you can tell that they truly care. Our child is making friends, learning and having fun every day and the cherry on top is they provide nutritious food. We get tons of pictures and videos throughout the day so we get lots of updates. I also appreciate that they support setting good boundaries and the kids are all very kind to one another but they really let them be kids with all the activities they plan. Can't say enough good things! read more

Garden Daycare has been an absolute gem for our family. Our little one started here at just 7 months old, and watching him grow in this nurturing environment has been such a joy. From the very beginning, Mama Vika and Stacey have shown love and attentiveness. It's clear they genuinely care about each child's development and happiness. One of the biggest highlights for us has been how much our son has progressed with solids and playtime. The team at Garden is incredibly supportive and knowledgeable, helping him explore new foods and engage in age-appropriate activities. We also love the daily photo updates! It's such a comfort to get glimpses into his day and see him playing and interacting with his friends. It makes us feel connected even when we're apart. We're so grateful to have found Garden. It's truly a place where children thrive and families feel welcome. read more

My daughter loves the school very much. She is very happy and active here. The school activities are rich and interesting. She enjoys everything here, including the teachers. They are very patient and responsible. Thank you for all! read more

Highly recommend! Not sure if my previous review was saved... Alyssa is the head/runs the daycare and she's extremely responsive and communicative. She really eased my initial fears as a first time mom dropping her child off at "school"! Her facilities are very clean and I can tell they do a good job maintaining the cleanliness. Anna has the perfect energy for kids in general. She sings with our LO and also lets us know what our LO does throughout the day. She sends us photos of what our LO eats and all the activities they do every day. Garden Childcare and Preschool is a great learning center and our LO has learned new sounds, colors, numbers/counting, etc since her time there. They have plenty of learning-centric toys (clean and BIPOC friendly/diverse) that our LO loves playing/ learning with. From "making pizza," to pushing or riding cars, seeing her favorite insects/flowers, to reading and counting toys or animals, our LO has a great time every day. There's also an option to pay for meals. And our LO loves the foods they make for her. Always a variety and many options to choose from at each meal/snack time. You will not regret sending your children here. You'll be glad and very happy with your decision. It's safe, fun, clean, play oriented and education focused! All things I value for young children. read more

We have been bringing our son here since he was 15 months old and he's now almost 2. Vika, Stacey, their staff, and the children became our family the moment we met and our son has NEVER been happier, healthier, or more developmentally stimulated than he has since he's been attending Garden from July 2021! First, I talked to Vika and Stacey (owners of this location and their other location) on the phone for a virtual tour during COVID while we lived in AZ. I had been through easily 50 or more virtual tours, traveled twice to see places in person, and no one ever made me feel as comfortable with my son as the place we were going back in Arizona until I found Garden. I was so worried about selecting a daycare that truly felt like I could trust entirely to help raise our son with my partner and I in line with our values and ideals as parents, as we both work intense jobs in tech for 8-10+ hours a day. We felt like we had already won the lottery once before with his past daycare and I started thinking I'd have to lower my expectations... until I found this place. The first conversation we had, I spent more than an hour on the phone asking questions and trying to understand their philosophy on childcare, hearing about the daily and weekly activities / themes they practice with the kids, and learned of all of the enriching ways that Garden Daycare feeds, nourishes, spends focused time teaching, and loving the kids. Stacey would have spent hours talking to me if I needed it, and I had never felt so at home on a virtual tour. I felt like we truly connected as parents to the humans running this daycare from those first moments. I knew in my heart that my child would excel at this home away from home and be treated with the same love I show him every day. Stacey did everything she could to get our son enrolled in time within the timeframe for our move, easing the biggest concern we had in a huge move across many states with a young toddler. Ever since our son has been attending, he comes home HAPPY and smiling every day. The proof is in the pictures as Vika and Stacey send many of the kids smiling, laughing, crafting, playing, learning, dancing, outside, and even celebrating for birthday parties together all day! During the most uncertain times of our whole lives, Garden Daycare has been the one certainty and life saver we've needed. Developmentally, I am astounded all the time at the skills he is clearly picking up from Garden too. Our son is learning important things daily like communication skills, listening skills, socialization, sharing, and collaboration skills. He's learned how to throw, catch, run, hop, sing, dance, and says countless words (easily 75+ and many two word sentences) all before the age of 2. I KNOW in my heart he's learning these things at daycare (mostly) and couldn't be more grateful that we have found a home for him at Garden where he is learning, loved, and so happy every day. Thank you Vika and Stacey! We couldn't do it without you!! read more

It's hard to believe we've only been with Garden Daycare for 3 months because it feels like we've known Vika and Stacey for years already. My 16 month old absolutely loves going to daycare every day so it makes it so much easier to be away from him because I know he's having fun with his teachers and friends. I'm consistently surprised with things he shows me he's learned at daycare. They send us lots of pictures and videos throughout the day which I love. The cherry on top is that Vika prepares all healthy food and as a working mom, taking away most of my weekly meal prep was life changing. read more

We love Garden Daycare! When we moved to San Francisco our daughter was 18 months old, and we had previously used an in-home nanny for childcare. Our whole family was experiencing a lot of changes and we were anxious to put our daughter into a new environment with people she didn't know. Vika, Stacey, and the rest of the team eased those anxieties almost immediately. By the end of her first week, our daughter was waking up in the morning excited to see her new friends and Vika. Every day, we receive pictures and videos of our daughter making art, playing with friends, and learning new concepts. And at the end of each week we receive all the art that she's made over the previous five days so that we can decorate our home. Placing our daughter in Garden Daycare was one of the best choices we made after moving to the city. We cannot recommend it enough for others who want to place their child in a loving, fun, and educational environment! read more

Our daughter has been in Garden Daycare for about a year and a half since a little before she turned 1 and she absolutely loves it. She learns a lot, eats healthy and loves the time with all of her friends. Vika, Stacey and their staff treat the kids as family (including the more 'spirited' kids like mine lol). Our daughter gets excited to "go to Vika's house" in the mornings. We also get lots of pictures throughout the day and even a periodic date night for the adults which is awesome. They are very communicative and have a calendar of activities and crafts throughout each month which are fun and engaging. The hours are friendly for working families (8-6) which is really helpful as well. Highly recommend! read more

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If you're looking for a personal, familial touch, this is the daycare for you. We can't recommend this daycare highly enough. Vika, Stacey, and team really make an effort to make a professional operation feel like the closest thing to having a family member watch your children. We sent our preemie son to Garden shortly before he was six months old with much trepidation as first-time parents, but everyone at Garden Daycare went out of their way to make us comfortable. We received personal texts from the team multiple times per day, giving us updates, many many photos, and seeing how we were doing. Vika, who runs the facility, took special care of and interest in our son. She even took a lead role in introducing solids to him, making meals for him herself and sending home extras for us to give our son (knowing we were a family with two busy, working parents). Vika was always there for advice and encouragement and would even check on us on weekends when our son wasn't feeling well. As much as they feel like family, it is a very professional operation. They keep the facility impeccably clean, have dual gate and door security with video monitoring, and do not let anyone into the facility (even parents) while children are present. The children spend lots of supervised time outside in the backyard and there are generally at least three teachers present (I'd say less than four children per teacher) for the entire group. We love Garden Daycare, they really go the extra mile and do things many other daycares will not, like make fresh foods for the children daily. We would highly recommend this daycare. read more

Stacey could not have been more helpful, warm, and inviting in welcoming us to the Garden community. Our 2 yr old has been at Garden daycare for 2+ months and we could not be happier with how Stacey, Vika, and staff have helped transitioned her into their classroom. Their schedule is also extremely accommodating for parents' variety of schedules in the mornings and afternoons. After some expected nerves in the early weeks that the Garden team wonderfully navigated, our daughter is now thriving and loving every second of her daycare days. She also talks about her teachers and classmates around the clock. One of my favorite things is she sings with us at home constantly based off of the songs she is learning at Garden. We are so grateful that our family is a part of this community and love that our daughter gets to learn and grow each day with Vika + team, and her wonderful classmates. Definitely a 5 star recommendation! read more

We can't say enough good things about Garden Daycare! Vika, Stacey, and the entire team feel like partners to us as parents, and our son has grown so much since he started at Garden. His ability to play with other kids, willingness to try new foods, comfort at spending time away from mom and dad, ability to follow instructions, physical capabilities, and comprehension / responsiveness have come so far. The team at Garden does a standout job of understanding what each child needs to personally grow and develop, and they cultivate a fun and playful environment that has helped our son develop skills he just couldn't if he stayed at home with us. We feel so lucky to be a part of the Garden Daycare family! read more

When we were searching for a daycare for our son, we spoke to a number of facilities, but after speaking with Stacey, we were certain that he is going to end up at Garden daycare. Stacey, Vika and all the other teachers are personally invested in the growth, development and care for all the kids. When he started, he had a lot of stranger anxiety, but now he looks forward to meeting all his friends and teachers. I am amazed at the level of commitment and love they showered to make sure he felt safe and at home. We have no doubt that our son is being loved dearly and cared for just as well as we do at home. They cook fresh meals everyday at home, using high quality organic ingredients. Our son just loves the food he eats there! In terms of development, they have a very good schedule and engage the kids in plenty of arts and craft. They also give ample of outdoor play time. Although our son is only 15 months old, it is incredible how many things he has learned in a very short period of time, including being able to put himself to nap. We really appreciate their emphasis on health safety. They have good policies in place to reduce the risk of infections to kids. All in all, it's a very safe and fun place for kids, and I highly recommend them! read more

There are not enough words to adequately describe what an absolute gift it was to have our son attend Garden Daycare. From the moment I reached out to Stacey, I knew I had found exactly what we were looking for. The confidence that Garden gave myself as a new parent was needed and authentic. The staff makes drop-off seamless, even when kids have a difficult time. They send pictures and videos every day to feel like you're taking part in the day. The food is yummy and healthy. Naps and rest time somehow always happen. Our son comes home happy and the perfect level of tired! The monthly date night is also incredibly special and fun. The only reason we left Garden was to transition into a formal preschool with age-based classrooms. The primary reason that our son is ready is because Garden prepared him for more! We cannot thank or recommend Garden/Three Bears enough. It's been an absolute pleasure to be part of their family. read more

I can't say enough good things about Garden Daycare (and their sister center, Three Bears Childcare). The director, Mama Vika and her team are so passionate about children and their development, it shows in everything they do! I had our oldest (who's 6 now) there and through their Reggio Emelia inspired approach, despite having since been in only language immersion programs, remembers her ABCs, songs, etc. I now have our youngest there (who's one) and she is so excited at drop off, it warms my heart. Not only do they take excellent care of the children, they also send constant updates that make my day. I highly recommend Garden Childcare - they're more than a place to send your kids, they become family. read more

We had an amazing experience at Garden Daycare with Vika and Stacey. This mom and daughter duo really enjoys and loves what they do as care providers for the children and it really shows. I started my daughter at Garden daycare when she was 5 months old because I had to go back to work. They put my mind at ease with their planning and great communication throughout the day. We had a transition period of half days, which then extended til after nap time, then eventually the full day. This was about two weeks long and made it easy for my daughter to get used to her new environment. As soon as my daughter could eat solids, Vika would provide healthy meals and snacks throughout the day. She is an excellent cook. My daughter ate a variety of foods I wouldn't have been able to introduce myself. Her favorite is Vika's borscht! There's also a sense of community at Garden daycare. Vika and Stacey throw holiday parties and get togethers (pre-COVID) for the parents and that makes it easy to get to know other families. We've had a wonderful experience at Garden daycare. Stacey and Vika are both so wonderful and really accommodating to my family's needs. We feel really lucky our daughter gets the care she experiences here. Totally recommend to anyone who wants a safe and nurturing environment for their children to thrive in. read more

Vika and Stacey helped us out, two weeks before Covid shutdown, when we had nanny emergencies (she had to leave suddenly). They were extremely flexible and understanding with their scheduling (between Garden and 3 Bears), and my son immediately fell in love with them. Then, Covid happened... they kept supporting us through out by giving us soups and art projects, and multiple virtual circle times on a weekly basis. Despite being in the daycare for just two weeks, my son NEVER forgot them. When they reopened, he went hopping and skipping right back in. I can see how well he is developing under Vika and Stacey's supervision, and he brings home the good manners (and new sentences, songs etc.) he is taught as well. He loves Vika's food, art, games and friends and constantly talks (and sings) about it at home. Their warmth is palpable, and it is a thriving environment for kids. We feel very lucky to have found them and highly recommend it. read more

We are so happy we found a daycare like Garden Daycare. Vika and Stacey are not just running a business for business sake, but instead, they create a home away from home filled with love for our son and all of the other children at Garden daycare. Our son lights up in the morning when we drop him off at daycare. All of the food provided is top notch and organic. We are also involved as parents and feel part of a community. Vika and Stacey and staff take not only COVID protocols seriously, but all types of sickness seriously. Our son rarely gets sick at Garden Daycare because of the necessary protocols regarding staying healthy. Garden Daycare is also ethnically and racially diverse for San Francisco and there are diversity days with parent involvement that celebrate a range of diversity. A huge part of feeling part of a community for us as parents is the daily sharing of photos of our son and the other children (shared with all parents) which we love and make us feel connected to our son even when we are not with him. We love Garden Daycare! Thank you, Vika, Stacey, and staff for being so amazing! We appreciate everything! read more

I'm a new mother, and picking a qualified daycare that would be a good fit for my son was daunting and challenging. I wanted an experienced and qualified team, a loving environment where my child's physical and emotional needs were met, and a thriving learning environment. I researched and visited daycares all around the city, and after meeting with Garden Daycare and having multiple conversations with Vika and Stacey, I knew it was the right fit. I shared my needs, and they devised a plan that worked for my family. Garden Daycare has been a blessing to our family. My son loves it, and we couldn't be more grateful. read more

We're so happy to have our daughter at Garden! She is excited in the morning to see her friends and teachers, and comes home happy and chatting about all the new things she learns at school. They send a lot of photos and videos so we can see what they do during the day. They also provide all homemade meals and snacks so we don't have to pack anything. Vika and Stacey make us feel like part of their family and are always excellent at communicating. read more

Since joining this amazing daycare, our daughter has picked up so many good habits, speaks a lot, is learning so many things daily. Before the daycare, she used to be a picky eater but since joining - she eats much better - all thanks to Vika's amazing food. Our daughter has also become more social and confident around other children and adults. Thanks for all you do for the children! read more

Our 1.5yo son has been attending Garden Daycare for several months now and we couldn't be happier with the quality of care he's receiving. It's extremely apparent how much Vika loves our son (and all of the children in her care!). He comes home loaded up with crafts, singing new songs, and playing new games every week -- it's been really fun for us to watch him learn all these things (and we get sooo many cute photos / videos from Vika and Stacey during the day it feels like we're right there with him). The community is great -- our favorite holiday party this year was the Garden Daycare holiday party (seriously, the pot luck spread was *insane*) -- all the other parents are relaxed and friendly, the other kids are sweet (and so much diversity!) -- Vika + Company do an amazing job fostering a communal environment that we feel lucky to be a part of. Couldn't recommend more highly :) read more

Garden is the best childcare. Vika treats my daughter like her own grandchild. She is kind, patient, and nurturing towards all the children. As a new parent, it's tough putting your trust into someone you don't know to care for your child. At Garden, I have no worries! It's the best feeling knowing my child is safe, learning new things, and having a blast with her friends. Stacey and Vika are great with communication. I receive pictures and updates throughout the day. Highly recommend! If a slot is available take it! read more

Vika, Stacey, Olga and Ellie are amazing! I can not say more positive things about our experiences at Garden. Our 3-year old son loves going to school everyday and walks right in with a smile. They treat our family like their own and care about us in ways that other daycares/schools have not. Our son has not only enjoyed the loving environment but also thrived with the preschool-like curriculum. He can count, sing the alphabet and knows so many songs by heart. I'm so happy we met Vika and Stacey and they've been a perfect fit for our family. Oh can't forget about the delicious home cooked meals. Our son comes home with a full belly and even prefers Vika's food over my own! I wish I could give them more than 5 stars! read more

Our 2-year-old boy has been attending Garden Daycare for about a year, and we have been really happy with it. Vika has a way with kids. She can get all 12 of the babies/toddlers to sit quietly at a table and listen on command. Is she a wizard??? A few of the highlights for us are: healthy home-cooked meals included; arts and crafts every day; calendars for the families showing daily lessons; circle time and songs like a preschool; clean and fun environment; outdoor time in the yard as weather permits. Also, Vika and Stacey promote a community feel. They just hosted a holiday party, and have other get togethers throughout the year so the families can get to know each other. Highly recommend this daycare! read more

Our baby is with Garden Daycare since January 2021 and we are really happy with everything Vika and Stacey have done and are doing for our little one and for us. I started looking for daycare before our daughter was even born and before the pandemic started. I have reached out to 8 different daycare and Stacey was the only one that responded immediately and provided us with all the info even though she didn't have any more spots available and there was already quite a long waiting list. This made a really good impression on us: showing such a professional attitude to a potential customer even though you actually already have enough families lined up to get a spot in your daycare. We were super excited when Stacey reached out to us that a spot is now available for us however were also a little bit hesitant due to Covid. Stacey was really understanding and explained in detail all their Covid protection processes which made our final decision to start with daycare much easier. Our daughter started when she was 8 months old and she loves it from the beginning. We know she is in a safe environment filled with love and attention. Stacey and Vika are more like a family to us then just a simple daycare providers. Our little one adores Vika and her food. Every day when we drop her off and Vika takes her into her arms our little one just looks at us and waves: "Bye Bye". It's really great to see your baby being so happy and excited to spend time at daycare. I highly recommend Garden Daycare to anyone who is looking for a daycare provider. read more

Our 1.5 year old has been going to Garden for several months now, and it has become one of his favorite places on earth. He has learned so much, and is taken great care of while at Garden. I would recommend this daycare to anyone who is looking. Some of the things we appreciate the most: - We love their daily agenda of activities shared with parents - We love how they treat the children like they are family - The home cooked meals are fantastic and healthy - The daycare is very clean and organized - They take proper precautions with illness Vika is highly experienced, and is just... gifted at working with children. We all love Garden Daycare! read more

Our family loves Garden Daycare! Before choosing a child care, I visited ten different centers. Garden Daycare was the cleanest with the best outside play area. It was also the most recommended by parents in the area. Owners Vika and Stacey made us feel a part of the family immediately. Our daughter is a picky eater but Vika is happy to shop for food, specifically, for her. Our daughter comes home telling us how much she loves her "Vika-Vika", all the toys and new friends. It's obvious that Vika and Stacey love what they do! My family and I definitely recommend Garden Daycare! read more

Garden Daycare is truly great. I send my daughter there and she absolutely loves it. Vika and Stacey are the nicest and my wife and I could not be happier with Garden Daycare. Each day they teach the kids about letters and numbers, they sing songs, and make art. The kids also learn about and celebrate holidays and special occasions. Our daughter eats well, learns, has lots of friends, plays and is so happy to go to Garden Daycare. Parents get sent photos each day, which I look forward to every day. When my daughter gets home we talk about what she did at daycare and she always is happy and has learned something new. The other parents at the daycare are really nice too. I highly recommend this daycare. read more

Our daughter has been going to Garden Daycare for about 6 months and she absolutely loves it. Vika is amazing with the kids! Our daughter loves the food, songs they sing together and especially the daily art projects. She comments all the time about the artwork hanging in her room: "I made all this with Vika!". When they're playing outside in the afternoons and I come to pick her up, she doesn't want to leave, she just runs off and climbs back up the slide again. At home she sings the circle time good morning song and we can hear how she has learned all the names of her friends from daycare. Even now while the daycare is closed and we're all sheltering in place, Vika and Stacey do virtual circle time with the kids and we still pick up soup and art projects! Our daughter amazingly sits mostly still during circle time, following along and responding back like she's in person. They're still learning the new letters of the week and she's gluing up a storm on the art projects at home. Vika and Stacey are everything you could ask for in a daycare for your kid. read more

Garden Daycare is the best place for our little man! Our 2 1/2 year old son has been going here for over a year loves every minute. Everyday he comes home exhausted from a full day of play and fun. Its very apparent he is learning even more than he is playing. It seems that he's learned something new every time I pick him up. Just the other day he recited both the alphabet and counted to 10! I had no idea he could do either as well as he had and its all thanks to the staff at Garden Daycare. And the staff! Vika, Stacey and the whole crew treat our family like their own. Vika and our son have a bond that is unbreakable and its clear cares for every child like her own. Additionally, Vika, Stacey and the gang are master teachers and motivators. Their years of experience developing educational programs shows through our son daily. COMMUNICATION. Its absolutely the best part of Garden Daycare. We are constantly getting updates on our son through out the day. Not only do we get texts from Vika and Stacey but they also send video and pictures (which are great to forward to his grandparents). Stacey also sends out friendly reminders about upcoming projects that require participation, days off, and monthly schedule complete with birthdays. From my first interaction to my pickup today, Garden Daycare has exceeded my expectations. Garden Daycare is full of diversity. Not only is our son exposed to kids from all different backgrounds but he is actually picking up Russian. Just the other day he was saying a word I didn't understand, only to hear Vika use it with him as we were leaving. Incredible! We couldn't have asked for a better experience for our little guy. Garden Daycare is like no other place we visited and little did we know it could only get better. I would recommend anyone looking for a fun, inviting, warm and educational place to send their child and look no further than Garden Daycare! read more

I love this daycare! I feel like my son is loved and well taken care of through out the day. Fresh home made food every day, lots of outside time, and they send me pictures of my child when possible. Very communicative and responsive staff. They even had a little party on my son's birthday. This daycare feels like a safe, warm, and welcoming community. 10/10, 5 stars, would recommend. read more

Garden Daycare is a second home for my little one. I am constantly amazed at how much love and attention my daughter is getting from Vika, Stacey, and the rest of the teachers / staff. When I saw that she was happily jumping out of my arms to go in the daycare doors, i knew that Garden Daycare is the best place for her. I can't say enough good things about their professionalism and genuine care for kids. read more

Our daughter has been attending Vika's Garden Day Care since September 2019 and we are so glad we made this choice. This is truly a place full of love and joy. It provides safe environment and delicious homemade (cooked by Vika every day) organic food: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. In addition to the clean and spacious indoor play area and a separate sleeping room with beds, Vika also has a really nice, kids-friendly playground in the backyard. My daughter and her friends have everyday learning activities which she loves so much - like art projects, learning letters, colors, days of the week and songs. Also, Vika's Garden Day Care is bi-lingual and my daughter is encouraged to speak Russian and English. My daughter just doesn't want to go home when I pick her up because of so much fun there read more

What are the ingredients for a good daycare? First of all, love. That you will find in spades. My guess is it's because its family run: Vika, her daughter Stacey and Vika's mom. And their love permeates the walls and the space and everyone they interact with which makes everything magnetic. The helpers too - Arina and Nika. The ratio of caregiver to child is 1:4 and some days 1:3 when grandma is there. Excellent. Second, structure. You will find a developmentally rich environment with social activities done in an intelligent and humorous way (that's 100% Vika). The day starts with morning meetings, song, an activity for the day. Always, dancing and fun. Something that makes the day special and stimulating for the children. Yet, there is structure and order. Time outs when necessary and clean up time. Garden daycare prepared my son for his baby sister. They are 17 months apart and I was worried that there would be jealousy issues. Anyway, he was exposed to other babies and offered an environment where he could model his new role as a big brother. Third, soup. Trust the soup. Vika makes spooky good soup (and food). I have no idea what she puts in it but my son Luca loves it and has asked her for it when she has offered different delicious menus (buckwheat, mushroom, wild salmon, fruit). My son always comes home with a round belly. Overall, he eats and sleeps better with Vika than at home. In addition, there is a lot of diversity (with children and parents), openness (communication, questions, everything is addressed), honesty (Vika and Stacey are authentic and the same with everyone) and transparency (texts with updates and photos). Our son is now 19 months and he has enjoyed coming to Vika's for the last 7 months. We feel it has been a priceless investment and are so lucky to be part of the Garden Daycare family. read more

This place is an actual gem, the reviews are all true. Ours is a Russian bilingual house, so I was looking for a daycare that had Russian speakers. Not only was I lucky enough to find Garden (and Three Bears, the sister school (daughter daycare, actually) that my daughter transferred to for better commuting) but the daycare is truly fantastic. The kids get 3 homecooked meals a day plus 2 snacks, Vika cooks them herself and told us about her insistence on organic ingredients and classic Russian cuisine style. I get pics throughout the day of my daughter having a blast and learning things, and the hours are convenient to work. Vika and her daughter Stacey are super communicative, organized, and on top of their profession. I couldn't have a better review, and am so happy we're a Garden and Three Bears Family. The only reason we switched to the other one is because its closer to our house, cutting my commute in half. I'm just thrilled we even had the option, but I would have continued driving my daughter the 20 minutes if I needed to, Garden is worth it. read more

I rarely review on Yelp but my experience at Garden Daycare has been overwhelmingly positive and so I wanted to share my review. My kid is almost 3. There are two reasons that make Stacey and Vika's daycare amazing in my experience: 1/ Vika is great at developing great habits: My son started hitting my wife when he got frustrated at home. I tried to educate him that it wasn't good to hit-"hands are for hugging". It didn't work and it progressively got worse. One day he hit me in the eye with his plastic toy. When I mentioned this to Vika, she immediately decided to correct his action. She brought it up at the morning circle-time and spoke to all the kids about the things that they have to be grateful for. That included being grateful for parents who take care of them. Then she spent one on time with my kid and explained to him how his behavior caused physical and emotional harm. Since that day my kid stopped hitting! In fact every time he gets frustrated, I see him controlling his physical urge to hit. What a change...all thanks to Vika! 2/They go over and beyond: When Garden daycare had to temporary close for unforeseen maintenance (plumbing) issues, Stacey and Vika worked hard to help parents find back up care. They reached out to their network and found temporary spots where they could so that we weren't left stranded. As working parents, their help was invaluable. We were extremely nervous about finding an alternate day care at short notice, but Stacey and Vika were amazing about it! If you are looking for daycare for your kid, do not hesitate to go to Vika and Stacey's place! read more

Dropping my little guy off at daycare for the first time (after his first year was spent at home with a wonderful nannyshare) was one of the most difficult and tear-joking moments in my short career as a mom. Vika and her daughter and their crew made this emotional experience as painless and easy as imaginable. They are nurturing, responsible, knowledgeable, pragmatic and communicative. My son has huge smiles for Vika when we arrive in the morning and, while happy to see us at pickup in the afternoon, is in no hurry to rush home with Mom and Dad. He has thrived socially, become a better eater, and learned how to help clean up all within his first couple months in their care. I cannot recommend this place enough! read more